Font Glossary

All the related variants of one typeface design, for example, different weight variants, width variants, upright, italic, bold, etc.

Finial:

The bottom right finish on the c and e at the end of the loop.

Fixed-Pitch Fonts:

Also known as monospaced fonts:
Fonts in which each character has the same standard width.

Floating Accent:

Accent forms which can be used with the appropriate letters, replacing the need for special characters.

Flush:

Type that lines up at the left or right margin. Also called flush left/ranged left or flush right/ranged right.

Folio:

In typography used for a page number of a book or typescript.

Font:

Traditionally, a complete set of characters for one typeface at one particular type size. Now used more loosely as a synonym for “typeface”.

Font File:

The font (font software) is the technical transfer of a type style into a digital file for a defined computer platform (Mac, PC) and font format (OpenType, PostScript, TrueType), and includes the character set and the digital instructions contained in the font, such as the kerning values, hinting information and feature definitions as well as other control information.

Foot:

Bottom margin.

Foredge:

The margin furthest away from the spine of a book.

Full Measure:

Type that extends across the full width of the page or column without indentation.

Full Point:

(US, period): full stop

The Know How section offers detailed background knowledge to deal with all enquiries about the use of fonts.